‘Success is in the mind not the bank loan’

10 Feb, 2017 - 00:02 0 Views
‘Success is in the mind not the bank loan’ Mbuya Chirenje serving customers at her selling point along Herbert Chitepo St in Mutare

The ManicaPost

Nathaniel Mlambo Business Zone

It is with great honour that I pen this inaugural edition of the business zone in print form.

For those who follow radio, the business zone is a 30 minutes radio programme, which I produce and host on Diamond FM every Wednesday from 7.30pm to 8pm.

In this edition, let me discuss a few tips about success.
Success is born in the mind set, unlike what many tend to think it’s in the bank balance. The bank balance is a result of one’s vision and principles.

This point brings me right into our topic this week: I had a great interview last week with Mbuya Miriam Chirenje, aged 73, a vegetable vendor since the age of 10.

So what is unique about her, you might ask me?
Like I said in the beginning, success is in the mind, nowhere else.
Mbuya Chirenje started working as a vendor at the age of 10, here in Mutare, she has not worked anywhere else except the vegetable market.

Remarkably, she owns a house in Yeovil a fairly low density area and in the course of her life as a vendor, she has managed to buy two cars for her business, unfortunately, one vehicle was stolen a few years ago and has not been recovered since.

Mbuya Chirenje looks after three grand children and pays boarding fees for them. Roughly, she spends $3 000 a term on schools fees, uniforms and other necessities required for boarders. Yes all earned from vending vegetables.

So I asked her what is the key to her success? She told me it’s about determination, and again success rests in the mind.

She has a customer policy very unlikely for an informal business person but she does. Let me share with you below her key policies:
1. Customer retention is born from a good vegetable or fruit
2. Honest and fair trade: don’t cheat your customers
3. Make your product affordable and you will keep your customers!

MbuyaChirenje is 73 years old and is still in business, going strong and not likely to retire any time soon.

All things being fair she has achieved her goals and probably has helped many others achieve their goals too.

Her success has nothing to do with a bank loan or start up injection of thousands. She worked hard learning the trade from her mother to be where is she today — a proud land lord and vegetable vendor.

If you have been sitting on business ideas, its time you get up and start working otherwise seek audience with Mbuya Chirenje!

Success begins and ends in the mind, many people have said this before me and the saying remains true today.

Nathaniel Mlambo is a journalist and training content producer with interest in business and socio-economic issues.

For feedback email: [email protected]

 

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